Pick-up



J. CLOVE PICK-UP 11 sheets-sheet' 1 AFiled April25, 1927 Il IIIIIIHIHIIIIIII Filed April 23. 1927 11 sheets-smet` 2 INVENTOR BY J C05 Clot/e mfg@ N YS.

ZV1, A TTOR J. cLovE PICK-UP Filed April 25. 1927 11 Asheets-sheet s n f l l Il INVENTOR. l BY Jzcobpc Zo Ve. MMT l v ATTORN Ys,

Dec. 20, 1932. J, CLOVE 1,891,748

PICK-UP y Filed April 25, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 5v INVENTORZ L ATroRNEYs.

Det. 20, 1932. J, GLOVE 1,891,748

PICK-UP Filed Aprii 2s, 1927 11sheetssneet 7 Fl 5.2 E.. F==- "vll, /05

INVENTOR.' Taco b Clo fe ATTORNEYS.

J. CLOVE fDec. zo, 1932.

PICK-UP Filed April 23. 1927 11 sheets-*sheet @Vw ma J.

De@ zo, 1932. u, GLOVE 1,891,748

PICK-UP il Filed April 25, 1927 11 sheets-Sheet 9 AmRNEYs.

Dec. 20, 1932. J. cLovE 1,891,748

PICK-UP Filed April 25. 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 1Q INVENTOR: Jco 2oz/e A TTORNE Ys.

De. 20, 1932. J. cLovE- n V' y PICK-UP Filed April 25. 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR.' Jacob C/ove 4MB ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 2O,Y 1932 UNITED STATES JACOB oLovE, or srocx'roiv, ofimronmanssreivoa, BY MEsNEAssIGNMENTs, To

CATERPILLABYTRACTOR CO., OI CALIFORNIA SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF PICK-UP Application filed April 23,

My invention relates to'liarvesting ma-A chines and relates especially to machines for gathering grain which has been tied into bundles and for delivering the gatheredV grain to be threshed. Under certain conditions of grain growing, the standing grain when ripened, instead of being cut and immediately threshed is cut and tied into sheaves or bundles which are stacked in shocks and lel't in the field for an extended period. It is generally the custom at present to thresh the bundles of grain by situating the threshing machine at a convenient point in the iield and then having laborers withl pitchforks load conveyances with the individualV bundles from the shocks. The bundles are deliv-V ered to the threshing machine where the ties binding them. are cut and the grain is released and threshed. This scheme involves a large amount of manual labor and lis -fundanientally slow and inefficient. This method of handling is also wasteful of grain as a considerable quantity of the ripe kernels is shaken from the straw and lost upon the Ground.

The most modern machines for harvesting'V when conditions permit immediate thresh-` ing of the standing gain, they are of no value with grain which has previously been cut and tied into bundles.

It is therefore an object of my` invention to provide means which can beattached to the separator. portionof a combined harvester and will operate in conjunction therewith to gather tied bundles of grain.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for delivering to Va threshing 1927. 'serial No. 186,138.

machine, bundles of piled in a shock. v

A further object of myinvention is to prograin which haveV been vide means for gathering from thek field, ir'A regular quantities of grain and continuously feeding a practically constant amount of grainto a threshing machine. n Y

An additional object of my invention is'to provide means for. gathering grain from the` field and preparing it for.l treatment in a threshing machine."

A further obj ect of my invention is to pro-` vide means for gathering bundles of grain preferably piled in aushock whichwill substantially duplicate the action vof a manually operated pitchfork. g

rI`he invention possesses other yadvantageous features, some of which with theifore'go-` ing, will lbe set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline-iii full that form of the pick-'up of my invention which I have selectedv for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of pick-up em-V bodying my invention, but it is to be underv stood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention as set forth in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings: f'

' Fig. l is a rear elevation of the pick-up of my invention attached to the separator portion of a combined harvester, the separator being shown.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of a-portion of the machine ofmy inventiomwith parts removed to disclose the draper, the pick-up conveyor and the band cutter. y v

Fig. 3 shows in detail the shaftv carrying the band cutters, portions being` disclosed in section on. a diametral plane.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the pora part of tion of the pick-up which cooperates directly with the separator portion of the'com bined harvester and showsparticularly the feeder arranged vin the housing pivoted to the framework.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the housing as Y i shown in Fig. 4, the view being taken in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan of a portion of the driving mechanism, as indicated by the line G--S of Fig. 5. Y

Fig. 7 is a cross section of the pick-up, the )lane of section being taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 1. d Y

Fig. 8 shows in perspective one of the knives comprised in the band cutter.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective one of the spacers comprised in the band cutter.-

' Fig. 10 is a perspective of a bearing spacer for the band cutter.

Fig. 11 shows in -perspective a portion of the framework adjacent the band cutter'.

Fig.'12 is a cross section of the pick-up conf veyor, the plane of section being indicated by the line 12-12 of Fig. 2. d

Fig. 13 is a section of the pick-up conveyor, the plane of section being indicated by the line 13-7-13'of Fig. 12.

F lll shows tnemounting for the band cutter, portions being indicated` in a cross section on the line 111-14 of Fig. 2. v

`Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view disclosing the discharge endof the pick-up conveyor.

Fig. 16 is a cross sectionl of the pick-up conveyor, the plane of section being indicated by 1in@ 16-16 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 17 shows the feeder inl cross section, the plane of section being on line l7-17 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 18 is likewise a cross section of a por-V tion or thefeeder, the plane of section, however, being'taken on line 13-18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 shows portions ofthe feeder in perspective. l

Fig. 2O is a cross section of the feeder, the plane of section being indicated by the line 20-.20 of Fig. 17 Y Fig. 21 shows in perspective one of the tangs as used on the feeder and on the pickup conveyor. Y

Fig. 22 discloses in perspective the comb installed with the knives associated with the feeder.

Fig. 23 is a view showing in perspective the means of mounting the knives adjacent the feeder, portions being broken away.

Fig. 24 is a section on the line 24 2-l of Fig. 5 showing in elevation portions of the stationary knives of the feeder and the comb.

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic perspective of the principalelements ofthe pick-up of my invention, disclosing especially the driving connections.

Fig. 26 is a perspective showing a means for moving the tangs relative to the chains on. the pick-up conveyor. Y

Fig. 27 is a section similar to Fig.` 12 but disclosing a modied form of means for providing relative movement between the chans and the tangs on the pick-up conveyor.

Fig. 28 is a cross section ofthe modification disclosed in Fig. 27, the plane of section being on line 28-28 of Fig. 27.

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic motion study of various successive positions of the tangs on the pick-up conveyor at the loading and at the discharge ends. v Y

Fig. 30 is a plan of the mounting of the caster wheel supporting the header.

Fig. 31 is a longitudinal section in a vertical plane of a modified form of feeder construction.

Fig. 32 shows a modified form of caster wheel at the end of the pick-up.

Fig. 33 shows a manner of pivotally moving the pick-up about an axis.

The pick-up of my invention preferably comprises a carriage adapted to be driven over a field in which tied bundles of grain are` disposed and which is provided with means for gathering the bundles and preparing the grain for further treatment ina threshing machine.

Although describe my invention in' connection with tied bundles of grain which are preferably arranged in shocks, it is also very useful Vwith grain which is not tied and is lying broadcast on the field or has been gathered into windrows on the ground. itis by no means confined to use with grains such asV wheat but is advantageously employed with beans and peas or similar vegetation as well. A variety of uses under a variety of conditions will occur to a user of my machine. I have chosen one environmentm which to describe my pick-up but such an environment is merely typical and is not to be con-A sidered'as theonly one in which my machine is advantageously operated.

1While it can be made as an integral part of a combined harvester, I preferably embody my invention as a separable portion to replacether header of an ordinary combined harvester and to be attached conveniently to the separator portionthereof. The separator portion ordinarily includes suitable threshing machinery and carries also a source of power, such as a gasoline engine,.for driving the various threshing mechanisms. ln one form of my invention, the picknp includes a carriage or framework 6 mounted on an'aile 7 and which 1s preferably fabricated of suitable channels and angles of iron. The axle 'is provided at one end with a hook 8 engagingan eye 9 furnished on the separator' 11.

From this universal connection to the separa-y tor 11, the axle 7 extends laterally and at its remote end rotatably engages a ground contacting wheel 12. As'shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 30 the wheel 12 is joined tor the axle 7 by' a knuckle 13'journaled on a pivot pin 14. It is then free to rotate about a substantially vertical axis at the end of the axle 7 The reason yfor pivoting the wheel to permit caster action is to aid the pick-up in making relatively sharp turns and in order to constrain the wheel against pivoting when the pick-up is traveling straight ahead, a yoke16 is aflixed to the knuckle 13 and lis provided with an arcuate strap 17 overlying the axle 7. The yoke 16 by coming into contact with. the axle limits the relative pivotal movement between the wheel andtheaxle and is preferably designed to permit Y the wheel to assume its pivoted position only when the pick-up is turning to the right, as is almost invariably the case when sharp turn is to be made.

A push pole 18 is attached at one end to the body of the separator 11 and at the other end is oined to the pick-up. The principal driv-v ing stresses are transmitted thru the push pole which, together with theaxle provides a sufficiently rigid driving connection. The pick-up is pivoted about axle 7 with respect to the separator 11. As shown in Figure 33, a beam 19 extends forward from the framework 6 and is provided with an eyelet 2l for attachmentto the Jacob staff 2G of 'the conventional separator. As is well known, an. operator on the separator raises and lov:- ers the Jacob staff at will, as by means of a hand wheel, and the connection with the beam 19 permits him to rock the framework 6 about axle 7. The pick-up is substantially balanced on the axle 7 so that little effort is required to effect the pivotal movement. To

aid in supporting the framework 6, a pair of" runners 22 are provided. The runners are preferably arcuate concave metal shoes and are rigidly vattached. to extensions prow K1 jecting forward from the framework 6. The runners 22 Contact with the surface of the ground and normally assist in supportin the framework. By suitable manipulation of the Jacob staff on the separator 11, the beam l!) can be lifted and the framework including the runners 22, can be entirely raised from the ground. This is a valuable feature when the machine is used in a field in which obstacles, such as rocks or stumps, are en-V countered. y

@n the leadingside of the framework 674 mountecL inthe framework 6 and extending parallel with the center board 26 t-hruout the length of the frame. Iotatably ournaled on the shaft 27 are the end boards 24: so that the entire frame is free to pivot with res )ect to the framework 6. The frame is positioned with respect to the framework by adjustable connect-ions at the lower, leading edge. Y Each end board 24 is the support for a bracket 28 thru which a hemisphe icallj.v

headed screw 29 is inserted. Jani nuts 3l adjustably position the screw on each of the runners' 22 and by suitably adjusting the screw, the relative position of the frame with respect to the runners can be regulated.'v By'V this means the leading-edge of the frame can, be vgivenany height above the ground that it is` desire`d and the degree of lin-clination of the entire frame can be changed at will.

The means yon the frame for engaging the`V bundles of grain preferably includel a con-e veyor. This pick-up conveyor in one embodiment includes the shaft 27 anda second axle' or shaft 32 also j'ournaled in the'endY boardsl 24 and extending parallel to'shaft 27. At both ends of the two shafts,"suitable sprockets 33 are mounted and are engaged by a pair of chains 34 arranged to run in a plane sub- Vstantially parallel tothe plane of the endA boards 34 and to operate in a circuit encomepassing the center boardl 26. The twochains 34 are' of standardconstruction with the ex-v ception that at intervals thruout their lengthl they are 'provided with irregular links 36.l The two chains are arranged with their irregular links in alinement to receive bars 37 arranged parallel to shaft 27 and 32 and jour-l naled in the irregularlinks. If the propor# tions Vof the device are-'such that the pick-up conveyor is relatively long, I preferablyiin stall a center chain 38 engaging sprockets'on shafts 27 and 32-and also provided with links 36 in which the central portions of bars 37 are journaled. f Y. y Each of the bars37 is 'providedwith a plurality of tangs 39 the contour of which is preferably as shown in Fig; 21.' In one form of constructiom'they comprise a boss 41 apertured to fit a bar 37 and providedA with v a pointed projection l2 disposed substantially perpendicular-to the axis of thefapertu're. They are slipped over the bars to their respective spaced positions and are welded or otherwise secured in place. Preferably I aline the tangs 39 on the various'bars'37'inl a vertical plane and also dispose them all with the same angular or polar relationship to their respective bars.

` I have found that if a 'pick-up, conveyor as so far described is operated, assuming that the lbars 37 are immovably fixed in the irreg; ular links 365 the tangs 39 in rounding the loweryleading edgelof the frame,- do not y properlyv engage the individual bundles of grain forming the shock into which the ap. paratusy is driven.V The tangs are disposed substantially radially on the shaft`32 andYV exert a force in a tangential direction onI the standing bundle of grain.. This motion is often as effective to upset the bundle of grain Y without engaging it as it is to afford a firm engagement by which the bundle can be cone veyed intoA the pick-ups 4I have found in. studying the motionwhich a pitchfork describes when it is being vmanually operated, that the tines of the fork are usuallyl substantially horizontalV vto .the ground just before they engage the bundle of grain and'arevtheni pointed upwardly somewhat and lifted into the bundle. VThey gain a firm hold and the bundle is securely held on the fork until it is discharged by the operator. I have therefore devised means for substantially repro-V bars and the chains to afford a suitable path of motion for the vtangs as they round the leadlngedge of the frame to engage the Vstanding' bundles of tied grain. In one modl- `ficaton of this means, the bars 37 are freely journaled in the chain links 36 and at each VeXtreme end are provided with cranks 43.

The cranks are supplied with rollers 44 which pass between two angles 46 and 47 arranged on the end boards 24 to form tracks. `As can be seen in YVl? ig. 12,the tracks while following generally the circuit of the chains 34 deviate therefrom in certain predetermined amounts. Preferably, thecrank arms 43 are offset angular-ly on the bars 37 with respect to the plane of the tangs 39 and are disposed in cooperation with the tracks so that relative rotational movement is afforded between the bars 37 and the links 36 during certain portions of the circuit of the'chains. There is, in practice, a certain amount of rotational movement between the individual links of the chain, but this movement is not sufficienttoV such that the tangs rounding the leadingy edge of the frame are first moved substantially parallel to the ground and as they advance totheir position of greatest forward projection, they are inclined upwardly somewhat to engage the tied bundles of standing grain. lThe grain bundle is thereby firmly impaled on the tangs and is carried on the pick-up conveyor 4to the upper, discharge end. .Vith the shafts 27 and 32 suitably driven, and the bars 37 of the conveyor operating at ,the proper speed, the carriage can be driven into a shock of grain comprising a plurality of tied bundles 'and' the tangs 30 will impale the individual bundles and liftl them onto the conveyor, raising them to the upper, discharge end; A variant means ofproducing relative rotation between the vbars holding the tangs and the chains 34 is disclosed in Fig. 27 In this modication, the major portions ofthe structure are as before but the bars 37 carry cranks 48 not provided, usually, with rollers. The cranks operate between guides 49 and 5l arranged on the' end board 24 and on the upper run ofthe conveyor are normally maintained in Contact with the inner guides 49 by the weight of the bundles of grain they carry. As they round the upper, discharge end of the conveyor, the tangs 39 release the bundles of grain and the cranks 48 tend to move outwardly and bear against theouter guide 5l. This relationship is maintained until the tangs, on their downward movement, strike against an angle 52 forming part of the framework 6. rlhey drag over the angle 52 where any adhering grain is forced olf and then depend freely, as the inner guide 49 is interrupted. As they approach the sprocket 33 on the lower shaft 32, the cranks 48 are contacted by one of a plurality of suitably spaced pins 53 'secured to a spider 54 mounted on and rotatable in unison with the shaft 32. The timin` arrangement of the spider and the chain 34 is such that contact between the pins 53 and the cranks 43 rotates the bars 37 in the chain and gives the requisite relative movement between the tangs and the chain. Further movement of the bars 37 around the sprocket 33 finally advances the tangs to such a point that the cranks 48 again come into engagement with the inner guide 49 under the influence of the load they Vcarry and the pins 53 are disengaged and continue their rotation. A substantial duplicate of the motion obtained with the track as disclosed in Fig. l2 is obtained with the mechanism of F ig. 27. From the preceding description, it is seen thatthe pick-up comprises an endless inclined conveyor having an upper conveying reach and an under return reach, with pick-up and discharge turns at theends of said reaches. t the discharge turn, material is discharged onto a draper 73 positioned below the discharge end of the conveyor.

The conveying of the bundles of grain from the ground and over the pick-up conveyor is apt to dislodge kernels of grain from the straw, as is the case with manual gathering of the bundles. In my device, kernels which become dislodged fall upon the center board 26. The inclination of the frame is often considerable, and the kernels normally gravitate to the ground so I have provided means for sweeping themv up on the center board to be discharged with the bundles of grain. Each tang 39 preferably includes on the boss 4l, a projection Y56 which isy drilled and tapped. Since all of the tangs 39 on each bar 37 are preferably alined in a single, radial plane the projections 56 are also in alinement and a strip 57 of flexiblel material, such as leather, is preferably extended across the entire width of thecenter board and is suitablyV attached to the projections 56, The flexible material contacts with the center board and,

as the bars 37 ascend, the kernels of grain which have become dislodged and have fallen on the centerrboardare swept upwardly to the discharge end. The end boards Q4 are preferably provided with end shields 5,8 which are conveniently metal plates to protect the pick-up conveyor from cross winds which would disturb the grainthereon.

The bundles of grain are -arranged-with the straw parallel and the heads at oneend and are usually tied by means of a circumferential band. Before the grain can be threshed, it is necessary that the band be severed to release the grain. I have therefore provided a band cutter adjacent the upper, discharge end of the pick-up conveyor. The .band cutter comprises a rotatable shaft 63 journaled at its ends in the framework 6 and preferably provided with a central supporting journal 6sl-'also secured to the framework. The shaft 63 is located preferably just above the upper, discharge end `of the pick-up conveyor and lies parallel with shaft 27. VAt in-V tei-vals on the shaft 63, knives 66 are disposed. These knives are usually of a crescent vshape as disclosed in Fig. 8. Theylare centrally apertured to be slipped over shaft 63 and are provided with a plurality of arcuate apertures 67 concentric with the central aperture. They are spaced on the shaft by means of interposed collars 68 each of which has at one end a plurality of projections 69 to pass through the apertures 67 and atithe other end a. plurality of cooperating recesses 7l to re-V '5 ceive similarV projections 69 on thepr-eceded collar. The knives are preferably alternated on the shaft 63 by the collars 68 andare thus suitably spaced apart. They are also angularlyspaced, usually at 90 degree-intervals. At the end of the shaft `63 and alsoA adjacent the center bearing (S45-collars 72 of the type shown in Fig. 10 are provided. After the shaft 63 is load-ed with collars and knives, suitable nuts are? screwed on opposite ends and tightly clamp the entire assembly in position. Preferably,the spacing between the individual knives is such that there is practically no possibility of any of the ties binding the bundles of grain passing thru the band cutter without being severed.

The direction of rotation of sha-ft 63 is usually opposite to the direction of rotation of shaft' 27 and such direction of rotation inight tend to cause the knives 66 to discharge released grain between the band cutter and the upper portion of the framework 6. To obviate thisV possibility I preferably provide a plurality of fingers 74 secured at their upper ends to the franieworlrG and depending between the individual knives 66. The width of the fingers 74 is such as to afford ample running clearance for the knives but to 'prevent the escape of any considerable amount of grain. The iin-gers 74 are supported at `5 their lower ends by means of braces 76 eX- tending to an angle 77 forming a'portion of the framework 6; If anygrain should pass through the fingers 7 4, it normally would fall on the center board 26 and would again be` carried over' the dischargeend of the pickup conveyor.V j kL l The bundles of grain which have had, their ties severed by being passed adjacent the band cutter fall onto a draper 78 disposed in substantially a horizontal plane lat the lower portion of the framework 6. The framework preferably is arranged to enclose a chamber V7 9 along the bottom lof which the draper runs. The chamber 79 is generally closed or partiallyclosed by sheet metal walls 8l at one side and by a baflle 82 at therother side to prevent the discharge of grain with thel downwardly moving' pick-up conveyor. V

The drape'r 78 is of the usual kind and .pref-v erably comprises-3. leXible'belt passing over a` roller 83 journaled at one end of the framework 6 and which is providedk with a pluencounters a shock of grain comprising a plurality of bundles and picks them all up and deposits'them on .the draper. It then progresses for a considerable interval with- Y out encountering another shock of grain. It therefore occurs thatthe draper. is rapidly loaded with anumber'of just released bundles of wheat and then operates for a period without receiving anyv bundles whatsoever.

This irregular feeding is not well suited to a threshing machine in which the rate of feed should be substantially constant to obtain the best results.- An accumulating chamber 86 is therefore provided. This accumulating chamber is enclosed by the framework' and by the sides 81 and is aportion of the length `of the draperV 78 onto which the pick-up In thel accu conveyor does not discharge. mulating chamber the grain which has been released can pile up and accumulate to be discharged at substantially a constant rate despite the irregularity and intermittency i with which it is charged.

Forming part of the framework 6 and pivotally attached ,thereto is a housing 87 'secured at one end just beneath the draper 78 and resting at the other end on the jigger board 88 of the separator. The housing is mounted in this manner to permit differences in movement between the separator and the pick-up. Adjacent the point of attachment of the housing, the draper 78 changes its substantially horizontal course and is inclined upwardly to pass about a roller 89 journaled Jpro ortion of the grain carried by the draper ban is up and accumulates in the accumulation chamber 86 and I usually provide means for feeding it from the accumulating chamber into the separator. Journaled in the sides ofthe housing 87 are a pair of parallel shafts 91 which are also substantially parallel with the surface of the draper 78. On each o'f these shafts a pair of sprockets 92 are mounted, each of the sprockets being disposed adjacent the side walls of chamber 87 A pair of chains 93 engage thesprockets 92 and are provided at regular intervals with links 1n which a plurality of transverse bars 94 are journaled. These bars are preferably mutually parallel and are preferably equally spaced. Each of them preferably carries a plurality of tangs 96 which can be of the same type as tags 39 as shown in Fig. 21. The tangs are preferably arranged in file on the various'bars 94 and are equally spaced along the length of the bars.

At the shafts 91 are rotated, the tangs engage the banked grain in the accumulating chamber and carry it upwardly andthrow it overl the upper end of the feeder into the separator. Grain which falls onto the draper is carried into the separator in the usual manner. If the bars 94 were rigidly affixed inthe chains, they might tend to buckle the chain as they assumed the load.` There are provided means for'talzing the twisting strain imposed on the bars 94 by loads on the tangs 96. Each of the bars 94 is freely journaled in the two chains and cannot transmit any twisting strains. Levers 97 are affixed to each end of the bars 94 and include trailers 98 which are adapted to slide on a guide 99 secured to the wall of the housing 87. The guides 99 follow closely the circuit of the chains and as load is imposed uponl the tangs 96 the trailers 98 bear against the guides 99 and prevent twisting strains from being transmitted to the chains. An outer guide y101 is also provided on the walls of the housing 87 and provides, with the guide 99, a channel between which the trailers 98 pass. The bars are constrained in motion and prevent interference with proper operation of the chains by undue movement of the tangs.

The rate at which grain is fed by the feeder from the accumulating chamber toward the separator is preferably constant and in order to assist in regulating the amount of grain carried by the feeder I provide a plurality of depending plates 102. These plates are preferably parallel to each other and kare mounted on a transverse channel 103 which is secured to the walls ofthe housing 87 and is preferably parallel tothe upper shaft 91. The plates are adjustable to be moved toward or away from the upper shaft 91 and are preferably spaced to be located intermediate the paths of the various tangs 94. They assist in regulating the rate at which grain is fed and prevent an excess of grain from passing to the separator. It may very infrequently happen that a tied bundle of gra-in passes the band cutter adjacent the pick-up conveyor without having its tiesevered. Such a bundle of o'rain would be passed along by the draper and would be conveyed by the feeder to the plates 102. Preferably the leading edge of each of the plates 102 is `sharpened to form a knife edge, and the plates become in'effect knives. If the feeder carries a tied bundle across the knives 102, the band is severed and the grain is finally released. The plates 102 therefore serve the double purpose of assisting in regulating the rate of feed and also in insuring that no uncut bundles are passed to the separator.

It may occasionally happen that the ac cumulating chamber becomes excessively loaded so that'the feeder tends to cause material to bank against the plates 102. This condition is not particularly disadvantageous and the machine operates in a satisfactory manner despite it, but I have provided a comb, as shown in Fig. 22, which operates to clear the plates 102 of accumulated matter. Two of the angles 104 to which the plates 102 are preferably attached are extended and are provided with apertures 106 in which arod 10? is journaled. The rod is preferablykept lfrom endwise movement in the angles 104 either bysuitable cotter pins or by bearing against the side walls of the housing 87. At intervals along the rod, tines 108 are afxed. The tinescan conveniently be passed thru diametral apertures in the rod and be riveted in place. The tines are of arcuate shape and are spaced to move intermediate the plates 102. An arm 109 is also affixed to the rod 107 and is provided with a cord 111 extending to a suitable point of operation. During the normalfunctioning of the machine, the grain passing over the top of the feeder bears against thetines 108 and causes them to move upwardly into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. Theyrtherefore o'er substantially no obstruction to the passage of grain, but when it is desired to clear the plates or knives 102 of adhering matter, the cord 111 is pulled, rotating the rod 107 in its ourna-ls and moving the tines 108 to their full line position as shown in Fig. 24. Adhering matter is thereby combed from the plates 102 and clogging is obviated.

All of the various moving parts of the pickup preferably derive their motion from the power source on the separator portion of the combined harvester. A drive'shaft 112 eX- cludedin the pick-up conveyor.

"l et 122 afhiied to the upper shaft 91 of the feeder. An idler 123 also engages chain 121 to afford a uniform degree of tension. rEhe upper shaft 91 rotates the lower shaft 91 by means of the pair of chains and the relative sizes of the gears and sprockets are such that a proper linear speed is given to the tangs 94. The draper is driven .by means of a chain 124 engaging a sprocket 126 on shaft 118 and also engaging a sprocket 127 on rollers 89.

Y VOppositebevel gear 116 and also meshing with bevel gear 117 is a bevel-pinion V128 af fixed to one end of a longitudinal shaft 129 parallel to one side of the draper andjournaled in the framework 6. The shaft 129 extends to the remote end ofthe machineat which point it carries a sprocket 131. A sprocket chain 132 engages the sprocket 131 and passes over a sprocket wheel 133 affixed to the end of sha-ft 63 which drives the band cutter. Ihe chain 132 then passes over a comparatively large sprocket 134 secured to the tation of shaft 27 drives, by means of the chains 34, all of the bars 37 and tangs 39 iny Cha-in132 then passes over an idler 135 which imparts to it the requisite tension and also provides an increased angular contact with sprocket-134,V from which it passes to sprocket 131 thereby completing its circuit. The proportions of the sprockets at the remote end of the machine are such thatthe proper relativo speeds are afforded to the band cutter and the pickup conveyor. Y Y

Under certain conditions of operation and particularly with grain having very long straw, I preferably use the form of feeder shown in Fig. 31. In'this modification the framework 6 carries the draper 78 which is also supported in the pivotally attached housing 87. Shafts 91 aie journalled inthe hous-A ing and are comprised in the feeder which in all respects is similar to the fee-der particularly disclosed in Fig. 4. A chain 136 engages suitable sprockets 119 and 122 to inipart the requisite drive to the feeder. As so far described,` the mechanism in the housing 87 is like the previously described modification. I preferably omit the relatively stationary plates 102 and their associated parts which act as a regulator for the feeding of grain and install a retarder 137.

A shaft 138 is suitably journaled in the housing 87 and is rotated byv an attached sprocket 139 engaging the cli ain 136. On the shaft 138 a pluralityof knives 141 are secured. These knives are preferably like'the one shown in Fig. 8 and are placed upon shaft 138 with intervening collars and in ananguf laryrelationship to provide an assembly similarto the band cutter. Upon the' movement of the feeder, the retarder 137 is revolved in the same direction and aids' in regulating .the rate at which grain is fed. The vrevolving retarder also has the function of cutting the ies orbands on any bundles of grain which c may happen to pass the band cutter uncut and particularly assists `in aiding the collected grain in the accumulating chamber to roll Vin Y the path of the arrow 142 in Fig. 31. The

grainl is thus fed alt a substantially constant rate and is kept'moving with the draper and with the feeder and does not tend to pack and form an obstruction.

While the caster wheel arrangement shown in Fig. is well adapted to a variety of circumstances, there are certain conditions which require a greater freedom of wheel movement and I consequently have developed the lwheel mounting disclosed in Fig. 32. To the:A framework 6, Va beam 136 is fastened; The beam is preferably fabricated of a tube such as an iron pipe'and is rigidly anchored in place. One end of the horizontally disposed tube eiitends from the frame and carries a yoke 137 at its extremity A horizontal vtubular member of the yoke encompasses the end of the tube and is fixed in place'. A vertical tubular fmeinber y138 is united to the horizontalmember and forms a journalfor a vertical shaft-139. Rotational movement of the shaft' in the member 138 is freely `permitted but vertical or axial displacement is prohibited by collars 141 and 142. Prefer-Y ably the lower collar 142 and the shaft 139 are formed integrally with-a fork'143 carrying a ground contacting wheel 144. The axis of rotation kof the wheel is not coplanar with the pivotal axis of shaft 139 and the wheel acts asa caster and permits the header to turn sharply in all directions.

IlVith the pick-up of my inventionatt-ached to the separator portion of a-"combined harvester, the entire'machine can be propelledl cumulating chamber where` the grain piles up and gathers. A proportion of the grain v is rcarriedA by the separator directly to the harvester and the remainder is kengaged by the-feeder which lifts it and carries it past the kfeed regulating plates and then disf CTI charges it to thel separator. Anyv bundles which are still intact are released by the sharpened edges of knives adjacent the feederV and the released grain is passed-to the separator. A substantially constant rate of feed to the separator is maintained in which the grain is tireshed in the usual manner. My machine is easily maneuverable about a field as it is provided with a caster wheel which permits sharp turns to be made. It also can be pivoted bodily about its supporting aille by manipulating a suitable control on the separator, and theheight at which the tangs engage th-e bundles of grain can be regulated by an' adjustable support runners. My machine is therefore applicable to a variety of conditions, is adapted to vbe attached to the separator portion of a combined harvester, can be moved with the separator over a field to gather grain which has been tied in bundlesand piled in shocks, and will convey the grain in a proper manner to a ythreshing machine.

I claim: l

1. A pick-up comprising a framework, a

connecting the pickup conveyor and the draper on said framework, means for 'dis-v charging cut bundles of grain onto one end of said draper, means for further handling said grain adjacent the other end of said draper, and an accumulating chamber intermediate the ends of said draper.

2. A pick-up comprising a frame,'a draper on said frame, affeeder adjacent the discharge end of said draper, and an accumulating chamber on said frame intermediatethe ends of said draper.

3. A pick-up comprising a framework, a draper on said framework, means for discharging cut bundles of grain along a predete mined portion of the length of said draper, and a feeder on said framework spaced from said predetermined portion to provide an accumul ating chamber.

el.. A pickup comprising a framework, a draper on said framework, said draper having an initial substantially level portion and a final l inclined portion, a feederV on said framework and located adjacent the junction of said level and said inclined portions, means for discharging cut bundles of grain on said level portion, and an accumulating chamber on said level portion.

A pick-up comprisin a framework, parallel shafts journaled in said framework, sprockets on said shafts, chains engaging said sprockets, bars parallel tosaid shafts and jou'rnaled in said chains,`tangs on said bars, lever arms on said bars, and a plurality of tracks on said framework for limiting theA movement of said lever arms.

G. A pick-up comprising framework, a draper on said framework, a pair of shafts on said framework and disposed parallel to the surface of sai draper, sprockets on said shaft-s, chains engaging said sprockets, a plurality of bars on said chains, said bars being disposed parallel to the surface of said draper, tangs affixed to said bars perpendicularly, andmeans for disposing said bars with respect to said chains to facilitate the picking up of grain from said draper by said tangs.

7. A pick-up comprising conveyor means movable to transport material, means for discharging `material ont-o said conveyor means, and means cooperatively positioned with respect to said conveyor means for preventing y material in excess of an approximately predetermined quantity from being discharged by said conveyor means.

8. A pick-up comprising a conveyor means normally receiving material intermittently, and means cooperatively positioned with respect to said conveyor means for retarding material to preserve an approximately constant discharge from the conveyor means.

9. A pick-up comprisinga first conveyor means movable over a circuit to transport material, said conveyor means normally receiving thematerial in irregular quantities, asec ond conveyor means movable over a circuit adjacent to the first conveyor means, the circuit of said second conveyor means lying adjacent to the first conveyor means so that the second conveyor means is effective to convey material in excess of an approximately predetermined quantity back onto the first conveyor. Y

10. In a pick-up, means movable to engage material on a `held, to transport the engaged material, and to discharge the material; and means movable with the material engaging means to collect material becoming disengaged from the engaging means dur ing transportation, said collecting means discharging collected material with the transported material.

11. In a pick-up, a center board, a plurality of grain engaging means movable over the center board, said center board cooperating with the grain engaging means to trans port engaged grain, and means for collecting grain disengaged from said engaging means. v v y 12. In a pickup, a center board, a plurality of grain engaging means movable over the center board, said center board cooperating with the grain engaging means to transport engaged grain, and means movable'with the grain engaging means for sweeping the center board to collect andtransport grain disengaged from the engaging means.

13. A pick-up comprising a pair of parallel end boards, a center board affixed to said end boards and extending perpendicular thereto, a bar adapted to be moved over said center board and substantially parallel thereto, and means impelled by said bar for sweeping said center board.

14. A pick-up comprising a pair of end in a plane parallel to the plane of said cen-k ing said center board.V y. f 15. A 'pick-up comprising-a. pair Vof "end ter board, and means on said bars for sweepboards, a pair of Chains parallel to said end.`

boards, a center board extendingbetween saidk chains and affixed to said end boards,a plurality of bars attached to said chains and adapted to be'moved iii a plane parallel to said center board, and means secured to said bars for sweepingsaid center board. Y

16. A pick-up comprising a pair of end boards, a center board extending between said end boards, a pairv of' chains, one of said chains running adjacent each of said' .end boa-rds, bars` adapted to be 4propelledin a plane parallel -to said center board, a plurality of tangs on said bars, VandI flexible strips attached to saidV tangs for sweeping said center board. l y v 17. A pick-up fcomprising van 'inclined frame adapted to be moved over the ground, a plurality of'tangs on said vframe adapted to engage a bundle of grain initially when".`

proximate the leading edge of said frame, aA runner adapted to contactthe surface of the ground, andmeans adjustably securing the runner to said frame to vary the height at which the tangs engage the bundle of grain. A

18. A pick-up comprising a framework, a runner secured to said: framework and adapted to contact the surface of the ground, a` frame-` adapted to moveinunison withisaid framework, and means adjustable for' height connecting said frame to said runner.

19. A pickup comprising an axle sup-` portedto move over the ground, a framework 'ivotally'mounted ony said axle, an inclined rame attached to saidv framework,VV tangs aty the leadingedge of said frame-adapted to engage a bundle of grain, a runner securedto said frameworkand adapted to contactthe surfacekof the ground,'means4 formoving said' frame relative'to said runner to adjustthe height of said tang-s', and meansfor pivotingl said frameworkabout said axle to raise said runner from thev ground. 1

20. Apick-up comprising a movable conv'eyor, a 'second' conveyor, material engaging meansl on said second conveyor,v` and means for moving said second conveyorv so thatina`` terial is engaged by the engaging means'and is transported to the movable conveyor.'y

21. A pick-up"` for a -threshing machin'ey comprising a carriage, `a'conveyor mechanism mounted on said carriagel and-adapted to 0U transport niaterial from the lfield to the threshing machine, and means to connect said carriage to the threshing machine to operatively connect said conveyor means with said threshing machine.` f

22.' A'V pick-up for a threshing machine,

comprising an axle having 'a ground sup-v port at one end and' aconnection to the threshing machine at theother end, a frame.

mounted on said axle, conveyor means mount; ed on said frame, and means to angulaly adjust said fra-me with. respect tothe axis of'. saidV axle to enable said conveyor meanstol, pick up material from the lield land transport material to the threshing machine.

25. A pick-upv for a threshing machine, comprising ,an axle, al conveyor means substantially balanced ont saidi axle, and "means to connectv said axle to said l,threshing ma' a chine'to enable Vsaid conveyor meansilto ,bemoved overaieldl with said threshing mai chine and tobe adjusted' with' respect'l tothe` field to enable said conveyor ,means to pickV up material from the field andjta'nsport ina'- terial to the threshing machine'.

' 24.v A feeder comprising adraperadapted' to receiveirregular quantities of uniformly disposed grain, and means for retarding eertain portions of said grain' whereby a subf stantially regular quantity of grairf charged'from said draper.r

is dis-j 25. A feeder comprising conveying means for transporting grain, and-.means ad]acen t1 said conveyor meansfor retardingthe- Conf-l veyance of grain in excess of a predetermined amount on a' portionof said conveyor.K

26. A feeder lcomprisingmeans -a'd`a.pt4. .dfk to receive and to convey grain, and .control meansI for l.regulatng thequantity of grain".

dischargedfrom said conveyor meansto a" I substantially predeterminedquantity.

27.` A feeder comprisingconveyor means for conveying grain, means. adjacentlto said. f

conveyor means for regulating the volume'of" gr'ain'con-veye'd past said regula-ting mean's'by said conveyor means, andadjustingimeans for varying said regulating means tovary the volume of grain' conveyedl by said conveyor means'past saidregulating means.

A feederY comp-rising conveyor means' for conveying grain," means Aadjacent to',` saidl conveyor means! for regulatingthe; volume of grain conveyed past said regulatingmans by said conveyor means,- andadjusting means` forc'ontrolling the volume' of gra'in conveyed bythe conveyor-means past said regulating' means. A f n. 29. A feeder comprising means for con#- veyingI grain, a I member rotatably mounted adj acentsaid conveyorl means, andgrain engaging means projectin from said member to retardl the passaget grain ,onf'saidco'n' veyor means. f Y f 30. A feeder comprising conveyor'meaisf adapted to receive quantities' of grain '12,5

mittently whereby said` conveyor is un'evenly' loaded`,`a'n d regulating lmeansfor retai"'clin,'g' grains'o that the diseharge'fromthe' c`i'1'v`ey0`i" issubstantially uniform. A

3l. A' 'feeder comprisin vm'eaiis'for con?" veying grain, said grainbe'ing distributed on.

rotv

iis 

